While the team are doing their bit to help fight this pandemic and staying indoors, it’s also making us a little stir crazy as our wings have been clipped, at least for the coming weeks or months. Like many others out there, we’ve been finding ourselves going through our archives, going online and longing for travel once again.
There are certain carriers out there that have caught our eye, with cabins both old and new that we’re looking at with wanderlust. Let us know below what 10 carriers and/or cabins you have on your post-Covid 19 bucket list!
Fiji Airways A350 Business Class
Who wouldn’t want to go to Fiji, and now home carrier Fiji Airways has its A350 flying on the Los Angeles route. Once the skies are cleared once again, one of our biggest draws is to experiencing the hospitality and new Business Class seats that far outperforms its incumbent product. The airline has made huge leaps and bounds over the years, but this new Business Class product is certainly turning our heads. Let’s also not forget their relatively new lounge in Nadi too.
Why? Fiji Airways offers competitive fares across the pacific, and its livery is one of the best in the skies. Mixed with fully flat beds, this trip would be a no-brainer.
Where? Fiji, obviously. Followed by a quick hop, step and a sea-plane jump across to either Liku Liku Lagoon for full-board luxury – a tried and tested favourite of ours, or Six Senses for one of the latest openings in the region.
Oman Air 787-9 First Class
Let’s put aside the dripping-in-bling First Class cabins of Emirates, which certainly are impressive, and focus our sights on Oman Air. The airlines’ new product – which we experienced last year – still has us craving caviar, and pocketing the dinnerware the food is served on. But it’s not all about the dining. The cabin is intimate, beautiful and private thanks to the full closing doors and expansive seats.
Why? Because quiet elegance and privacy is what First Class is all about. This isn’t about instagram-worthy photos, this is about classic Jet-set Era refinement.
Where? While Muscat and The Chedi is a great place to catch the rays, why not go further, and head all the way to Bangkok, where a 1-hour private plane can take you to the delights of Soneva Kiri, to perfectly complement the trip.
LATAM 777-300ER new Business Class
LATAM has a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to its Business Class products, with the older 777s and 767s offering an inferior product, followed by the 787s and A350s offering lie-flat seats, but still not all-aisle access. However the latest cabin not only offers all aisle access but a beautifully designed seats that invoke the design language of South America
Why? LATAM is just about to leave oneworld, and will have to stand on its own two feet for a little bit. Because of the it’s having to work harder than ever and the efforts are paying off. We can’t wait to see how the new cabin brings everything to life in a new and exciting way.
Where? While Sao Paulo is the Eastern hub for the carrier, we can’t help but want to dip our toes in the sandy seas of Rio. For sweeping views, we’d probably opt to stay in the Fairmont Copacabana.
British Airways new Club Suites
It might be a bit of a slow roll out for British Airways, but the new Club Suites are a definite improvement on the ying-yang seats of yesteryear. While the seats aren’t anything spectacular, when mixed with the White Company bedding, new dining options and the clean, airy cabin of the A350, there’s a lot to be happy about in these seats.
Why? British Airways have been long-due an upgrade to their hard product in ‘Club World’ and while the soft touches have already been upgraded, this was the crowning glory for the carrier. We want to see if the new hard product re-energises the crew to create a product with an international standard once again.
Where? With only a limited route network of the seats, probably we’d take a spritely trip across to Dubai. While there, a stay at the Palace Downtown and a Thai meal enjoying the fountain show at its Thai restaurant Thiptara.
Turkish A350 new Business Class
Turkish Airlines outperforms their regional competition on many fronts, from onboard chefs and large regional business class seats. Their lounge is vast, and a foodie’s delight. They recently won Best Design Airline Europe at TheDesignAir, partly due to this, but also because of their new Business Class seats, which get rid of the awkward hop across your neighbour that the previous seats afforded. While currently only available on the 787, flying to hotspots like Bali, the A350 is reportedly having the same hard product, will also start flying to London, Manila and Sao Paulo in the near future.
Why? Turkish Airlines offers a great product at usually really good prices, and with their new product, why the hell not?
Where? We’d probably take a trip to either Manila or Sao Paulo, but the same product is available on its 787 too, in which case, a long-haul venture to Bali and a stay at Amankila would be top of our list.
Philippine Airlines A350 Business Class
PAL certainly had lofty ambitions a few years back, wanting to raise its level to an international standard, and they didn’t hold back. Their latest aircraft – the A350 might not be new to the skies, but it certainly packs a punch, offering a far superior product to its previous flagship 777 product (Similar to that found on Turkish Airlines 777s) The A350 is certainly of international standard, and when mixed with their new regional lounges, like the ones in Cebu, the airline is crafting itself anew name in the Asia region.
Why? It’s one carrier we still have yet to try, and the Philippines is one country we are desperate to discover.
Where? If we were dripping in money, then Amanpulo would be top of our list, with pristine white beaches and private airstrip, but the more cash-conscious can head for one of the El Nido resorts in Palawan.
Qatar Airways QSuites
Again, another product that’s been in the skies for a while, but certainly a leader in its class. Qatar Airways’ QSuite is the epitome of a Business Class product with a door that can be customised in to a 4-person private cabin if the mood fits. We aren’t the biggest fan of seats with doors, as we still find the LOPA a little claustrophobic, but thanks to Qatar Airways’ custom design, there is swathes of space.
Why? With the product now appearing on the carrier’s 777-200LRs there’s great reason to fly with Qatar Airways to connect you on ultra-long haul flights.
Where? While the QSuites can be found on routes including London and Auckland, our ideal trip would be a London-Sao Paulo via Doha routing to get maximum enjoyment of the QSuite. When landing in Sao Paulo, we’d want to check out the Rosewood Sao Paulo when it opens early 2021.
Air Tahiti Nui Business Class
Air Tahiti Nui drums up images of tropical islands, Frangipani flowers and warm hospitable service, but recently made the record books for the longest domestic flights, connecting Tahiti directly with Paris, connecting the two destinations with one, very long flights, thanks to the tailwinds and light loads. While it’s not the largest business class seat, and doesn’t offer all-aisle access, this is for honeymooners, so the side-by-side seating is less of negative, and can actually be seen as a positive.
Why? Air Tahiti Nui usually offers one-stop connections through LAX between Tahiti and CDG, but the new 787s take the older majestic A340s and offer more comfort including flat beds
Where? Who said Bora Bora? While The Brando would be the A-list resort of choice, we’d be happy to rest our weary heads on the pillows of Sofitel’s Private Island in Bora Bora with sweeping views of the Atoll.
Malaysia Airlines A350 Business Suites
Malaysia Airlines’new A350 product in business class offers a myriad of seats depending on your travelling needs, from throne seats to side by side seats, but there’s nothing better than row 1. Originally dubbed First Class, but then recategorised as Business Suites, the product fits happily between the classes with the benefits of large business class suites with doors, but extra perks such as fine wines and of course the carrier’s famous Satay course.
Why? Because Malaysia Airlines offers some of the best fares across to Asia, and an affordable mid-First/Business Class product.
Where? We’d probably look at The Datai in Langkawi, which is just a short hop from Kuala Lumpur and accessible on either of Malaysia Airlines’ 2 daily flights from London Heathrow.
ANA new Business Class Suites
Last but not least, ANA easily boasts one of the biggest business class seats in the sky at over 1 metre wide – and featuring doors – its private and spacious. Matched with ANA’s excellent service, dining and Sakes what better way of flying to Japan. The airline has even just revealed new lounges in Haneda as the excellent way to start your trip from Tokyo’s most central airport. While there might not be the Olympics this year, it’s not holding us back from wanting to head over to Japan in 2020, if only to get ourselves the very best Sushi in the world.
Why? ANA have only just rolled out this new product, which features huge TV screens and massive, flat sleeping surfaces and excellent dining. There’s no question ‘why?’ it’s simply ‘why not?’
Where? Tokyo is awesome, and one of our favourite cities in the world, and where better to call home while there, than AmanTokyo.
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